Jeff “The Hornet” Horn, 18-0-1, 12 KO’s, defended his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title with an 11th round technical knockout victory over Gary Corcoran, 17-2, 7 KO’s. Horn withstood adversity early on and battled back to a successful stoppage as Corcoran’s corner threw in the towel.

One of the hottest tickets in boxing by virtue of his fight with Manny Pacquiao early in the year, Horn was immediately chastised by on again, off again British welterweight, Amir Khan. Khan hasn’t fight since moving up to 154 pounds and being knocked out by Canelo Alvarez last year. That said, Khan has looked for the fight that provided the most financial gain as of late.

Based on Nielsen’s ratings and TV By The Numbers, Vasyl Lomachenko, 10-1, 8 KO’s, Vs Guillermo Rigondeaux, 17-1, 11 KO’s, was the 4th highest rated show among 18-49 year olds for Saturday, December 9, 2017. The event peaked at 1.73 million viewers with a 0.6 rating. This, in the world of boxing, is a great thing considering it was competing with a number of other sporting events taking place on that night.

This is the second highest rating for Top Rank’s boxing deal of the year and trails only Manny Pacquiao Vs Jeff Horn, which peaked at 2.18 million views. Pacquiao is a known commodity throughout the world and one of boxing’s biggest stars of all time. Lomachenko is rising to stardom as he’s shown that there are few boxers who can match his skills, but he hasn’t yet fully crossed over outside of boxing circles.

Katie Taylor, 7-0, 4 KO’s will be back in action tomorrow, December 13th, headlining for the first defense of her World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title. The Ireland native picked up the title in only her seventh fight with a unanimous decision victory over Anahi Sanchez back in October. An amateur standout, Taylor has been on the fast track since making the move to the pro ranks in 2016. Her upcoming title defense will be her sixth fight of 2017, an impressive feat reminiscent to the old days of boxing. Her opponent will be Jessica McCaskill, 5-1, 3 KO’s, a U.S., based fighter making the trip across the pond for her big shot. McCaskill has been busy as well and this will be her fourth fight of 2017. She’ll look to upset the highly touted Taylor. The fight will take place at York Hall, London, England.

Taylor is a part of the U.K., based Matchroom Sports stable who’ve done a good job in keeping her busy and putting her in front of real fight fans.

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN, Guillermo Rigondeaux, did not break his hand in the fight with Vasyl Lomachenko this past weekend. “No break, but severe contusion on left hand,” according to Rigondeaux’s promotor in a message. This coming on the heels of what was a disappointing performance doesn’t make matters any better for Rigondeaux.

However boxing channels through the lens of one’s perception, the recognition of battletested bouts absent of the final bell will continue to rustle the swarm of debates from fans and critics alike. Granite, we’re accustomed to four, eight, ten, twelve or fifteen round bouts as a standardized language afforded a fighter to contend his opponent revisiting the epochs of the sport. Essentials for a boxer is evaluating an opponent fighting style, applicable strategies, complimented with a vigorous training regime in executing the intent come fight day.

It festers as an impatient waiting game gestating eagerly in a fighter’s alley up to the referee’s final instructions. Boxing is, and always will be a haven for brutish reflective kaleidoscopes, moments of intense assortments properly plotted attacks delegated from the opening bell. A referee swift arm motion to begin the battle-of-will pinches my interest consistently as if transparent gladiator gates arise unleashing the bellows of fear. The coined cliché, “only the strong survive” encapsulates the in-ring blood soak sully canvas, deeply enshrined from a select group of fighters who paid the sacrificial toll breaching the battle lines. Let’s frolic the cumbersome gory paths of the “Coup de Graces” an unsettling lights out confirmation dealing the opposition an early night at the office.

Boxing is often called the art of hitting without getting hit. For most fight fans little matches the thrill of the art of hitting. When Boxings biggest punchers land their best shots, fans hold their breath in awe as the gladiators of the ring are toppled like trees. We all know who the greatest punchers in the sport are. Mike Tyson was arguably the most exciting Boxer to exist, everyone knows Iron Mike for his ferocious punching power and speed but how many remember him for his head movement which made opponents miss as wide as Scott Norwood’s failed field goal to end Superbowl XXV. The names of Boxers who excelled at the art of hitting are known far and wide, George Foreman, Joe Louis, Sonny Liston, Thomas Hearns and Julian Jackson are just five of the names easily recognised for their punching prowess but what about those Boxers who were wizards in the other half of the sentence, the art of not getting hit?

In this article, I look into the history books and recognise five of the past greatest defensive fighters to have graced the squared circle.

The light heavyweight division is heating up right now, even with Andre “SOG” Ward out of the picture due to retirement. Recently, Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev and Sullivan Barrera each notched a win. For what it’s worth, or not worth, Kovalev picked up a vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) strap.

Then we have the rising Dmitry Bivol ready and waiting for his next challenge after blowing out his opponent a few weeks ago. Artur Beterbiev is also back and ready to tango after knocking out his opponent in the 12th round of his fight earlier in the month.

Also, Adonis Stevenson, if you remember him, is going to be putting his World Boxing Council (WBC) title on the line against Badou Jack in Jack’s second fight at light heavyweight. Stevenson will be the favorite but an upset special would satisfy a lot of fans and boxing scribes, me included.

Many a sports writer who covered Friday nights “Matrix” match up with perhaps the two purest boxers extent will rely on the vintage Roberto Duran line of 1980 calling the bout a “no mas.” Instead, Ringside Report has coined the adage that suggests you can’t handicap against Vasyl Lomanchenko. Simply put, inside the pocket you can’t step to him; and you can’t step away.

The fight was a yearend high lite of the boxing calendar hosted at Madison Square Garden. Fans and media alike have been fiending for this top notch matchup of two boxers who both have won two Olympic gold medals. Never before has this taken place in a professional ring as both combatants have extraordinary amateur backgrounds.

Tyson Fury has long talked up a potential comeback to the ring, after being absent from the sport of boxing since his incredible achievement of dethroning Wladimir Klitschko back in November 2015 at the Esprit Arena in Germany.

Many wrote the Manchester-born fighter off before his showdown with the now retired Ukrainian great in the latter’s adopted backyard on German territory but Fury secured an impressive unanimous decision success to claim all of the WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles that famous night.

If there is one thing the US government should’ve learned already, it is that prohibitions don’t work. It has tried (and failed) to ban the sale and consumption of alcohol between 1920 and 1933, and we all know how it ended: organized crime groups have gathered massive fortunes, and the sale and consumption of alcohol never stopped. Online gambling, especially sports betting, is in a similar situation today. US citizens are unable to play at most casino sans dépôt, as they call them in Canada, as the US government has banned banks from processing transactions to and from internet gambling venues, while sports betting is illegal under 1992’s PASPA (Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act), which bans all forms of sports betting in all states – with the exception of Nevada and a handful of other states with little more than sports pools. Just like in the case of alcohol, the betting ban has led to the rise of a massive underground industry. Some estimate that it has a turnaround of billions, even hundreds of billions, each year. All this out of the reach of authorities, and without the states receiving a cent.

There is a preponderance of difference between throwing in the towel and hanging up the gloves. As a writer, I have both the burden and privilege of covering each. With the 2017 boxing calendar about to come to a screaming halt for the holiday season fans have already witnessed a handful of champions officially retiring from our glorious sport because timing, like in the ring, means everything. Some of the brethren waited several years to announce their departures that most fans thought of them as retired years ago. The roster includes Wladimir Klitschko, Nathan Cleverly, Andre Ward, Floyd Mayweather, JR., Shane Mosley, Paulie Malignaggi, Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, and as of December 3rd, future hall of famer Miguel Cotto joins the proud ranks of those who called it a career but doing it on his own terms and planned timetable something quite rare for a pugilist.

Ringside Report was live at the MGM National Harbor for the latest in installment of Golden Boy Promotions on ESPN and the night didn’t disappoint.

The main event of the evening featured hometown favorite Lamont Roach, JR., 16-0, 6 KO’s, as he took on Rey “The Technician” Perez, 21-9, 6 KO’s. Both fighters were fairly cautious in the first round as they felt each other out. Each chose to lead with their jab, setting the tone for a technical fight. Perez worked his way inside with combinations to the body in the second round. Roach, JR., was on the defensive before landing a solid right uppercut that Perez himself seemed to acknowledge as a good shot. Roach, JR., showed solid jab work early in the third before landing a solid left hook that woke up the crowd.

As I am trying my darn hardest to catch a super bantamweight to interview him – elusive wee guys so they are, I am reminded that we don’t do heavyweights very well. After all Gary Cornish, 24-2, 12 KO’s, has not quite managed to gain that British title despite two attempts! To be fair one was against Anthony Joshua, 20-0, 20 KO’s!

Kai Robin Havnaa (11-0, 9 KOs) will headline his hometown arena on February 3 when the Nordic Fight Night hits the SØR Amfi in Arendal, Norway.

The rising Norwegian star, who is so far undefeated in his eleven professional contests, will face his toughest career test in a hotly anticipated homecoming fight against the big punching Croatian Marino Goles (22-8, 20 KOs).

Despite the challenge that lies ahead, Havnaa, the son Norway’s only ever male World Champion Magne Havnaa, says he is excited to get the opportunity to fight at home and is eager to give the fans in Arendal a night to remember.

Team USA women’s boxing hopefuls will be competing in the prestigious USA Women’s Elite National Championships, December 5-9, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

This year’s field is stacked with talent, including 2016 Olympic Trials Champion Virginia Fuchs (Kemah, Texas), who will be looking to close out an impressive 2017 year that included four international titles and an undefeated 16-0 record, and two-time World Champion and 2014 Youth Olympic Champion Jajaira Gonzalez (Fountain, Colo.)

All over the world, boxing is increasing in popularity once again, returning to its proper place of headlining the sports news section. This time around, however, boxing is seeing its women’s divisions rightfully draw more attention and more fans.

In Europe, Cecilia Braekhus has forged a stranglehold on the welterweight division by owning all four of the major belts, and Katie Taylor has shot up from her Olympic gold medals to become a world champion in the lightweight division after just seven fights. Then, of course, there is a plethora of South American boxers littered around the top five rankings in almost every women’s division.

Now it is Canada’s turn to give more attention to women’s boxing and give it the fandom that it deserves.

There are artists that live in the hearts of their fans. When an artist nears the end of their long and illustrious career, they find the time to sit down and reflect, telling intimate stories, recalling the moments that defined their careers and giving insight to those that hope to one day make their way to the position attained by the star.

In BOXING INTERVIEWS OF A LIFETIME, Author “Bad” Brad Berkwitt sits down with many of the stars of the past and present, using his skills as an interviewer to get the inside stories that are seen nowhere else. Stars like Buddy Hackett, Joey Bishop, Al Martino, Jerry Vale and Vanessa Del Rio, along with many of the biggest stars of pugilism to ever lace up the gloves.

BOXING INTERVIEWS OF A LIFETIME is a book that has something for everyone, particularly those with an interest in how Hollywood operates and the strange and funny stories that have gone on behind the scenes. Celebrities of the big screen, TV, sports and more have gathered in one remarkable book, which is now available for purchase.

The Associated Press has reported that former multiple division world champion Floyd Mayweather, JR., had a break in at his Beverly Hills home and the police are investigating it. Beverly Hills Police said in a statement earlier today, that Mayweather, JR.’s home was burglarized sometime in the last week

The incident was first reported to police Tuesday afternoon. Investigators say Mayweather was not home at the time of the burglary.

Roy Jones Jr Boxing Promotions, along with Underwood Promotions are set to partner up on December 8th, 2017. The highly anticipated event will air live Friday night (Dec. 8th) on beIN SPORTS (8 p.m. CT / 9 p.m ET),) from inside the beautiful Round Rock Sports Center located in the beautiful scenic town of Austin, TX.

“Roy Jones Jr. Promotions loves coming to Texas and the fight fans always welcome us with open arms,” says Keith Veltre CEO & Co-Founder of Roy Jones. Jr. Boxing Promotions. “The hospitality that we are greeted with lets us know that we are doing a great job showcasing talent. Working with Underwood Promotions has been incredible and we are excited to see what the future holds.”

SHOWTIME Sports will live stream a world-class boxing event – including two world championship bouts – free to the U.S. audience on social media platforms Saturday, December 9 to close out the network’s industry-leading 2017 boxing schedule. The digital-only offering will be exclusive in the U.S. on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page.

IBF Super Middleweight World Champion James DeGale (23-1-1, 14 KOs) will headline as he defends his title against former world title challenger Caleb Truax (28-3-2, 18 KOs) in DeGale’s first fight since a thrilling bout with Badou Jack in a 168-pound world championship unification match last January on SHOWTIME.

Two of Bellator’s top recent free agent signings, Michael McDonald (17-4) and Valerie Letourneau (8-6), will both make their long-awaited promotional debuts during Bellator 191 at Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England on Friday, Dec. 15.

“Mayday” will take on Peter Ligier (8-1-1) in a bantamweight main event, while “Trouble” will compete at flyweight against Kate Jackson (9-2-1) in the co-main event. In addition, British heavyweights collide when James “The Colossus” Thompson (20-16, 1 NC) returns to the Bellator cage where he meets Philip De Fries (13-6, 1 NC). Finally, two lightweight contests have also been added, as Jeremy Petley (11-8) battles Lewis Monarch (9-2) and Ash Griffiths (4-4) takes on Mohammad Yahya (3-1).